Craft How To Instructions
Advanced Crochet Stitches
Front Post and Back Post Stitches
In double crochet, you work around the post of the dc in the previous row.
Front Post - yarn over (yo) your crochet hook. Insert hook from front to back on right side of post, go behind post and then push hook out on left side of post. Yarn over and complete a double crochet as usual.
Back Post - yarn over (yo) your crochet hook. Insert hook from back to front on right side of post, come in front of post and then push hook out on left side of post. Yarn over and complete a double crochet as usual.
Granny Square / Granny Motif
Start with a circle. Ch 6, join to first ch with a sl st to form a ring.
1st rnd: Ch 3 (Figure 1). Make 2 dc in ring (Figure 2), catching in losse thread-end (the ch-3 counts as 1 dc), ch 3, * make 3 dc in ring, ch 3. Repeat from * 2 more times. Join with sl st to top st of starting ch-3 (Figure 3).
2nd rnd: Sl st in next 2 dc, sl st in next space (sp), ch 3, in same sp (Figure 4) make 2 dc, ch 3 for corner sp; make 3 dc in same sp, * ch 1, in next sp make 3 dc, ch 3 and 3 dc. Repeat from * 2 more times; ch 1. Join, same as on first rnd.
Knot Stitch
Start with a foundation chain of 22 sts (multiple of 5 plus 2).
1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook.
2. Draw loop on hook up to measure 1 inch (or length specified in directions).
Thread over and draw through loop on hook. Insert hook between the 1-inch loop and the single strand behind it (Figure 1) and draw a loop through (2 loops on hook); thread over and draw through the 2 loops on hook. This completes a knot stitch.
4. Repeat Step 2 (Figure 2).
5. Repeat Step 3. This completes two knot stitches.
6. Skip next 4 ch on foundation chain and make a single crochet in next chain. One knot-st loop made.
7. Repeat Steps 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to end of foundation chain.
8. Repeat Steps 2 and 3, three times (3 knot sts). Turn.
9. Working over next knot-st loop, insert hook between loop and single strand of first knot st (A on Figure 3) and make a single crochet. Now sc between loop and single strand of second knot st (B on Figure 3).
10. Make 2 knot sts, then repeat Step 9.
11. Repeat Step 10 to end of row.
12. Repeat Step 8 to turn.
Repeat Steps 9, 10, and 11 for desired length.
Shell Stitch
Start with a foundation chain of 19 sts (multiple of 6 plus 1).
1st row: 2 dc in 4th ch from hook - half shell made; skip next 2 ch, sc in next ch, (skip next 2 ch, 5 dc in next ch - shell made; skip next 2 ch, sc in next ch) twice. Ch 3, turn.
2nd row: 2 dc in first sc, (sc in center dc of next shell, shell in next sc) twice; sc in top of ch-3. Ch 3, turn.
Repeat 2nd row for pattern.
Open Shell Stitch
Open shell stitches are made up of any even number of sts with a chain-space in the middle. The following version is a 2 dc, ch 3, and 2 dc open shell.
Start with a foundation chain of 23 sts (multiple of 6 plus 5).
1st row: In 7th ch from hook make 2 dc, ch 3 and 2 dc - open shell made; (skip next 5 ch, open shell in next ch) twice; skip next 3 ch, dc in last ch. Ch 3, turn.
2nd row: Make an open shell in sp of each open shell, skip the 2 dc of last shell, dc in next ch. Ch 3, turn.
Repeat 2nd row for pattern.
Cluster Stitch
Clusters can be made up of any number of stitches. The one shown here is a 3-dc cluster.
Start with a foundation chain of 19 sts (multiple of 3 plus 1).
1st row: Yarn over, insert hook in 4th ch from hook and make a dc until 2 loops remain on hook; holding these 2 loops on hook, begin another dc in the same st and draw yarn through 2 loops once - 3 loops on hook; yarn over and draw through the 3 loops at one time - starting cluster made; * ch2, skip next 2 ch, holding back on hook the last loop of each dc make 3 dc in next ch, yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook (as shown here) - cluster made. Repeat from * across. Ch 3, turn.
2nd row: Make a starting cluster in tip of first cluster, * ch 2, cluster in tip of next cluster. Repeat from * across. Ch 3, turn.
Repeat 2nd row for pattern.
Puff Stitch
Start with a foundation chain of 20 sts (multiple of 4).
1st row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn.
2nd row: Sc in first 3 sts, * thread over, insert hook in next st and draw up a loop, (thread over, insert hook in same st and draw up a loop) twice (as shown here); thread over and draw through all 7 loops on hook - puff st made; sc in next 3 sts. Repeat from * across. Ch 1, turn.
3rd row: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.
Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately for pattern.
Popcorn Stitch
Start with a foundation chain of 21 sts (multiple of 2 plus 1).
1st row: Dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 1, 5 dc in next ch, drop hook from loop, insert hook from front to back in first dc of the 5-dc group (as shown here) and draw the dropped loop through ch 1 to fasten - popcorn st made; * skip next ch, popcorn st in next ch, dc in last 2 ch. Ch 3, turn.
2nd row: Skip first dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, * 5 dc in tip of next popcorn st, drop loop from hook, insert hook from back to front in first dc of the 5-dc group and draw the dropped loop through, ch 1 to fasten - popcorn st made. The raised stitches are again on right side of work. Repeat from * across to within last dc, dc in last dc and in top of ch-3. Ch 3, turn.
3rd row: Skip first dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, * in tip of next popcorn st make popcorn st same as on first row. Repeat from * across to within last dc, dc in last dc, dc in top of ch-3. Ch 3, turn.
Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately for pattern.